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- Title
Prevalence of borreliae in ixodid ticks from a floodplain forest ecosystem.
- Authors
Hubálek, Zdenek; Stünzner, Doris; Halouzka, Jirí; Sixl, Wolfdieter; Wendelin, IIse; Juricová, Zina; Sanogo, Yihairi Osée
- Abstract
Host-seeking ixodid ticks were sampled in a floodplain forest ecosystem along the lower reaches of the Thaya (Dyje) river in South Moravia (Czech Republic) and Lower Austria during the period 1989-2002. The ticks were examined by dark-field microscopy for borreIiae (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agent of Lyme borreliosis), and attempts were made to culture the spirochetes in BSK-H medium from preparations containing their high numbers. Isolated borreliae were identified by PCR-RFLP analysis using probes directed against ribosomal spacer genes. A total of 797 nymphal and 719 adult (391 female, 328 male) Ixodes ricinus were examined: 16.2% of nymphs, 28.6% of females and 29.0% of males were positive. Dermacentor reticulatus (70 females, 30 males) and Haemaphysalis concinna (12 nymphs, 8 females, 2 males) were negative for spirochetes. The overall prevalence rate of borreliae in I. ricinus from the floodplain forest is slightly higher than the mean European data (i.e., 14% for nymphs, 21% for adults). The difference in infection rate between nymphal and adult ticks was significant, including the proportion of heavily infected (with >100 borreliae) nymphs (2.1%) vs. adults (7.6%). Prevalence of borreliae in I. ricinus showed a significant decrease during autumn in this ecosystem. Three strains of spirochetes, all of the Borrelia afzelii genomic group, were isolated from female I. ricinus. Moreover, Trypanosomal Crithidia sp. protozoa and Dipetalonema rugosicauda nematodes were detected in 0.4% and 1.0%, respectively, of all I. ricinus.
- Subjects
LYME disease; BORRELIA; BORRELIA burgdorferi; CASTOR bean tick; FLOODPLAIN forests; TRYPANOSOMA
- Publication
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 2003, Vol 115, Issue 3/4, p121
- ISSN
0043-5325
- Publication type
Article